English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Beches

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wokingham Within

Historical Forms

  • Bech' 1332,1334 SR
  • Beche 1453 ib
  • Beches 1481–2 RentSur

Etymology

Beches, (tithing of) Bech '1332, 1334SR , Beche 1453ib , Beches 1481– 2RentSur . It is difficult to say whether this is a genuine p.n., or is manorial in origin. Geoffrey atte Beche was living in Wokingham in 1327 (VCH III, 229). v. bēce 2 'a beech-tree'.